Improvement in capping soeews



JOHN GARDNER, O F NEW HAVEN, C() NNECTICUT.

i Letters .Patent 1\Tn. 70,193-, dated October Q9, 186i.'

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN GARDNER, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven, and State of Gonnectvicut, have invented certa-in new and useful Improvements in Gapped Screws, and in the method of capping the same; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. i

My-invention relates to that class of screws known as capped screws, or screivsin which the head'is covered by a cap of metalor other suitable material, which serves at oncc'as an ornament and a protection to the head.

The object I have in view is to so'cembine the cap with the screw that the cap shall be detached, and capa ble of being applied with facility to the screw, either before or after the insertion of the latter into the wood or other material with which it is used. Y

To this end my invention consists in the combination, with a screw of ordinary or suitable manufacture, of a cap, provided with a screw-stem'located centrally upon the under side of saidcap, and fitting in a socket formed for itsreception in thehcad of the screw. When the screw has been inserted in the wood, the stemof the cap is inserted in the oriiice formed inthe head of the screw, andthe cap is then screwed down tightly over 'the screw. By making the under surface of the cap concave, the edge of the capr is theonly part which bears upon the wood or other material which surroundsthe screw, and by this means the position of the cap may be more certainly assured than if the bearing-point were nearer the centreof the cap.

The advantages which result from my invention, as above stated, areas follows:

First. By capping the screw after insertion, the cap is not liable, as is the case where the ordinary capped screw is used,lto be injured or defaeed by thescrew-driver or other instrument by which the screw `is forced home, but it preserves its original appearance unimpaired. It can, therefore, be much more highly ornamen'ted and made of more fragile material than the ordinary cap, without the danger of being broken or yinjured te which the latter would be subjected. i i

Second. As the cap is made without any nick or hole, it not only presents a more uniform and ornamental appearance than the ordinary slotted or perforated cap, but it also completely covers lthe screw-head and its nick, and prevents it from'becoming rusted, and thereby uniitted for use.

Third. By making the cap detachable orvremo'vable, I am enabled to lit caps of any style or patteraonithej same screw, and to change the pattern as often as desired, or renew the cap whenever it becomes worn or tar: nished, without moving the screw or taking it from its seat.

To enable those skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will now proceed-to describe the manner inwhich the same is or may be carried into eect by reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a pad-screw, and i Figure 2 a likesection of an ordinary Hat-headed screw, both of which are capped in accordance with my invention. Y i

The cap C, which is applied to the head of the screw'lA, is made of metal or other suitable material. Its

general form, as shown in the drawings, is concave-convex, but it may, of course, have anyother required form.

From the under side ofthe cap extends a central stem, a, which is secured to the cap by solder or other means.

This stem is intended to it in an orifice or'socket, b, of corresponding size, formed in the top and centre-ot` the screw-head. 1 t Y t After the screw is inserted in the wood or other material B, where it is to be used, the stem a is inserted into the socket t, and the cap is pressed down upon the screw until itsledges or its under side come in contact with theiscrewhead or surrounding wood. In ordervto facilitate the operation of adjusting the cap, the stem u, which is made of any suitable metal, is screw-threaded, and alike thread is cut in the socket b, so that by turning:i the cap in one direction or the other` it can be either attached to or detached from the screw-head. It will be noticed that by giving a concave form to the under side ofthe cap C only the edge of the cap hears upon ,l the screw or the material surrounding the screw. This is quite an essential feature of my invention, as the cap is in this manner more firmly and tightly held in position, and'in all respects less liable to become injured or displaced than if its under surface were flat, seas to be brought in contact with the entiresurfa'ce of lthe head of the screw, shown in iig. 2. proposeto make the cap U not only of metal, but of porcelain, glass, and any other material which I may find to be adapted to my purposes. This material may he moulded or otherwise shaped in different patterns, and ornamented more or; less, asA desired.

It is apparent that the cap C can at any time be removed from the'head of -tlie screw, and another substituted for it. The absence of the nick or slot by which thevordnary cappe-d screw is disgured contributes to enhance the beauty as well as the superiority and utility of any cap constructed in accordance with my invention.

:Having now described myA invention, and the. manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect,

what I claim, and desire to' secure by Letters Patent, i s v 1. The combination of the cap and screw-stem fast to the cap, with the screw-head 'and socket or orifice i formed therein for' the reception ofthe said'stem, under the arrangement and for operation as set forth.

2.. In screws in which the cap and its central screw-stem are combined with the head of the screw, as described, I claim malingthel under' surface of thcsaid cap concave, substantially as and for the purposes' set forth. i

In testimony whereofI have signed my namc to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GARDNER.

Witnesses: l

H. T. BLAKE, E. K. BLAKE. 

